The Role of AI in Language Preservation and Revitalization
Myles Ingram · 2025
Myles Ingram explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the preservation and revitalization of endangered and minority languages. He reflects on his experience with Latin to explain the importance of a large text corpus and community interest for effective language revival. AI tools, particularly in the area of natural language processing (NLP), provide powerful opportunities for documenting, analyzing, and generating endangered languages. However, Ingram also underscores the challenges AI faces in fully capturing the cultural and linguistic subtleties that define these languages. Through a series of interviews with speakers of minority languages like Basque, Yoruba, and Garifuna, Ingram reveals the mixed reactions to AI’s role in language promotion. While AI can promote accessibility and visibility for these languages, there is concern that it may fail to retain the nuances of expression, idiomatic phrases, and cultural contexts that give these languages their distinct identity. This chapter advocates for an approach to AI development that is community-centered, ensuring that the technology respects linguistic diversity and preserves cultural authenticity.